Make TV Watching Productive
Here’s a sad, but also well known truth: Americans watch a lot of TV. Here are some interesting statistics from TVTurnoff.org:
- The average American home has the TV on for 8 hours a day
- The average American watches 4 hours and 35 minutes of television each day
- The average American household is 2.55 people, but the average home also has 2.73 televisions
These statistics tell us that as a people we are spending a ton of time in front of the TV. We aren’t suggesting that you all turn off your TV for good (although that might not be a bad thing), but rather suggesting that you at least make some good use of this time. Either during the show you’re watching or at least during the boring commercials, get down and do some pushups. During a standard commercial break you could probably get in at least 20-40 pushups depending on your level. Then maybe during another break do some crunches or other body weight exercise. The idea here is that if you’re going to sit around a watch TV, at least do something productive and helpful for your fitness/weight loss goals.
Here is a short list of exercises that you can easily do at home that require little or no equipment that you could do while watching TV:
- Pushups
- Wall Squats
- One-Leg Squats
- Quick Jog Around the House
- Chair Dips
- Angled Calf Raises
- Anything with Bands or Free Weights you have at home
Get creative! You could even come up with little mini workouts you can do, or even have a competition between you and other people watching the show. See who can do the most pushups before the show comes back on. That way not only are you getting in some good exercise, but you’re also have a good time with those around you and motivating each other to achieve your best.
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Yes. Great Article! I always am doing DIPS off the side of the couch or a chair, and doing pushups and situps in front of the television. I also run in place for the full amount of time of the commercials, or non-stop shadow boxing to keep my stamina up. Great article. Personally, I try not to have the TV on much, but when I do, I am never just sitting there.
Extreme TKO,
Thanks for the reply! Running in place and shadowboxing is another great idea, thanks for sharing that. Sounds like you’ve found some really good and effective ways to keep your heart pumping and not wasting any time.
I walk around the room, or do aerobics-like back-and-forth walking. Not that I watch much TV, but I use it to get some cardio into my day. BTW, I love your posts. I have an article about weight loss basics up at my personal development blog. Probably too basic for you, but if you’re interested in personal development stuff, I’d love for you to stop by
I’ve never think watching TV is productive, but now I know
I would agree with you. Watching TV really isn’t that productive for anything, but there are ways to make it more productive! If you’re going to do it, you might as well do it in a way that can actually be beneficial.
Personal Development, thanks for the link to your site with some other good basic tips. We have to get the basics under control before anything else, so its good to see a list like this from time to time. Thanks again for sharing!
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Good suggestions. We all spend way to much time sitting on our backside watching TV and not enough time exercising our bodies.
I always think that its all wastage of time to watch TV but i am amazed to read your post, is it really true…
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Great article. It is amazing how much time we as a society waste in front of the TV. I’m always open to trying new ways to get into shape and using this valuable time is a great suggestion. Thanks!
Wow, that’s a lot of TV and seriously a lot of things that could be done during that time. I wonder how many hours a day people are on the computer between work and home? Great suggestions for exercises.
TV is one thing but when the internet emerges, it’s another story. People use the internet for almost 24 hours a day. This is another case that must be dealt with..immediately.
Yeah I gotta admit television can be so addictive. With the drama and catfights on reality shows….they really draw you in. Luckily I’m a die heart p90x fan. I agree life doesn’t get better watching TV. Success requires action.
Get creative! You could even come up with little mini workouts you can do, or even have a competition between you and other people watching the show.
Wow, that’s a lot of TV and seriously a lot of things that could be done during that time. I wonder how many hours a day people are on the computer between work and home? Great suggestions for exercises.
I don’t know about you but I can always find something proactive to do while there is a show on. It might be cleaning or whatever.
So any suggestions for what I could do while working on my computer lol..
Cool post. This is when I get much of my exercises done. Ususally my children are home and they try to keep up. It’s funny. I’ll be watching a show and realize ouch, I’ve done like a hundred leg raises or something. This is a great blog full of info. Thanks